French Countryside Offers Lessons In Slowing Down
An Unlocked Gate in the French Countryside: A Lesson in Slowing Down
Traveling has taught me a lot over the years. I've learned about the world, photography, and most importantly, myself. There’s a clarity that comes from being alone with your thoughts, with only your camera and a stretch of road ahead. But even then, some lessons only reveal themselves when you’re forced to slow down. This happens for me in the French countryside.
While exploring a quiet trail, I came across an old iron gate blocking the path. It looked weathered and worn, slightly tilted from years of standing against the elements. Without thinking twice, I assumed it was locked. My mind immediately shifted into problem-solving mode: How do I get around this? Could I climb it? Is there a gap in the fence?
I circled, strategized, and even set my camera down to prepare for a hop over the gate.
But something made me pause. Maybe it was the stillness of the morning or the fact that I was just tired from overthinking everything lately. I walked back to the gate, placed my hand on the latch, and turned it.
It swung open effortlessly.
I stood there for a long moment, half laughing at myself, and half realizing how often this happens in life. Sometimes, we are so busy looking for complicated ways around our challenges that we forget to check the simplest solution first. We assume things are harder than they are. We make things harder than they are.
I share this moment with you from the French countryside because we all do it.
We all face gates, obstacles that seem insurmountable, paths that look blocked. But what if instead of immediately trying to scale them or reroute our lives around them, we just stopped for a second? What if we simply tried the latch first?
Sometimes, the way forward isn’t nearly as complicated as we think. It just takes a little stillness, faith, and a willingness to try the simplest thing before exhausting ourselves with Plan B (or C, or D). Next time you find yourself standing in front of a “closed gate”, whether in work, creativity, or life, I hope you’ll remember this little story. Slow down, breathe, and turn the latch. You might be surprised how easily the door swings open.
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